Leviticus 8 28

Leviticus 8:28 kjv

And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savor: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Leviticus 8:28 nkjv

Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar, on the burnt offering. They were consecration offerings for a sweet aroma. That was an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Leviticus 8:28 niv

Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering as an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.

Leviticus 8:28 esv

Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 8:28 nlt

Moses then took all the offerings back from them and burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering. This was the ordination offering. It was a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD.

Leviticus 8 verses

Leviticus 8 28 Meaning

Leviticus 8:28 describes Moses completing a pivotal step in the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. It records him taking specific portions of the "ram of consecration" (fatty parts, some bread), which Aaron and his sons had presented, and burning them on the altar alongside the existing burnt offering. This act transformed the material offering into a "pleasing aroma," signifying divine acceptance, and established it as a sacred "offering by fire to the Lord" that confirmed the priests' divine appointment.

Leviticus 8 28 Context

Leviticus chapter 8 details the ceremonial consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, fulfilling the divine command given in Exodus 29. This event marked the formal establishment of the priesthood, separating them for holy service within the newly erected Tabernacle. Moses, acting under God's specific instruction, performed all the rites of ordination because the priests themselves could not initiate their own service; they had to be appointed by God through Moses as the mediator.

The chapter describes a sequence of offerings: a sin offering for purification, a burnt offering for dedication, and the ram of consecration, which Leviticus 8:28 concerns. This specific ram symbolized the "filling of their hands" for service. The burning of specific fatty parts and accompanying bread portions (after they had been waved before the Lord) on the altar signified their acceptance by God, a vital confirmation of the priests' readiness to mediate between God and Israel. This precise and ordered ritual highlighted the holiness of God and the strict requirements for those who approached Him, directly contrasting with the chaotic and impure religious practices of surrounding nations.

Leviticus 8 28 Word analysis

• And Moses took them from their hands: This phrase emphasizes Moses' direct involvement as God's appointed officiant, physically handling the portions that Aaron and his sons (their hands) had presented. It shows the orderly transfer of the sacred elements as part of the formal consecration.
• took them: Yiqqaḥ (יִקַּח), from the Hebrew verb laqaḥ (לָקַח), "to take." "Them" (ōtām) refers to the fatty parts, the right thigh, and portions of unleavened bread and cakes that had been placed in Aaron’s and his sons’ hands (as described in Lev 8:26-27). This action symbolically completed their "filling of the hand," or ordination.
• and burned them on the altar: The act of burning (wayyaqtēr - וַיַּקְטֵר, from qāṭar - קָטַר, "to cause smoke to ascend, to burn incense") signifies making an offering to God. The altar (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbēaḥ) was the designated place where offerings were consecrated through fire, making them acceptable to the Lord.
• on the burnt offering: al-ha'olah (עַל-הָעֹלָה). The "burnt offering" (olah - עֹלָה) specifically refers to the entire ram that had already been offered as a burnt offering (described in Lev 8:18-21). Placing these parts from the ram of consecration on top of the already burning olah implies adding to the fire already consumed for God. This might signify that the special consecration offering, while distinct, was integrated into the foundational act of complete dedication represented by the burnt offering. It also highlights continuity and God's acceptance of the combined offering.
• It was a consecration offering: This specifies the type of sacrifice: millu'im (מִלֻּאִים), which means "filling (or fullness) of the hands" or "consecration." This offering uniquely consecrated Aaron and his sons for priestly service, providing them with the authority and enablement to minister before God. It's a key term defining their ordination.
• for a pleasing aroma: reyah nihoah (רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ). This phrase appears throughout Leviticus and the Pentateuch, denoting an offering that God found acceptable and satisfying. It expresses divine favor and approval, suggesting the fulfillment of divine requirements. In a broader biblical context, this imagery points to Christ's sacrifice, which perfectly pleased God.
• an offering by fire to the Lord: ishsheh la-YHWH (אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה). An "offering by fire" (ishsheh) designates any portion of a sacrifice consumed by fire on the altar. "To the Lord" (la-YHWH) directly indicates the recipient and purpose of the offering, emphasizing its sacred destination and divine acceptance. This term underscores that the consecration was wholly directed towards and for God's glory and service.

Leviticus 8 28 Bonus section

The phrase "filling of the hands" (millu'im) for "consecration offering" is rich in meaning. It can be understood both as Aaron and his sons receiving the portions into their hands to present them (their authorization), and as God filling their hands with the authority and blessing needed to serve (their empowerment). This points to the principle that divine service requires divine appointment and endowment.

The progression of offerings in Leviticus 8—the sin offering for purification (v.14-17), the burnt offering for complete dedication (v.18-21), and finally the consecration offering for endowment into service (v.22-29)—presents a theological pathway for approaching God: first, deal with sin; second, wholly dedicate oneself; and third, be equipped for consecrated service. This pattern echoes the New Testament's emphasis on purification by Christ's blood, dedication of one's life to God, and enablement by the Holy Spirit for service.

Leviticus 8 28 Commentary

Leviticus 8:28 marks the concluding public act of the meticulous and divinely commanded consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons. The ritual of placing the specific portions onto the altar fire, atop the existing burnt offering, visually conveyed several profound truths. First, it emphasized God's meticulous instructions for holy service, ensuring that the priests were not self-appointed but divinely ordained. Second, the "filling of the hands" (millu'im) rite literally equipped them for their sacred duties, providing them with the necessary authority and means to represent Israel before God. Third, the transformation of the sacrifice into a "pleasing aroma" affirmed divine acceptance, ensuring the efficacy of their future ministry. This entire process foreshadowed the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Christ, whose self-offering as the High Priest became the eternally "pleasing aroma" to God, perfectly consecrating all believers as a "royal priesthood" through His finished work. The physical fire on the altar consumed the sacrifice, symbolizing God's reception and approval, a theme culminating in the spiritual reality of new covenant worship.